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Back in 2006, the Boston Bruins inked arguably the most impactful unrestricted free agent of the past decade in towering 6-foot-9 defenceman Zdeno Chara.

Remember back to those days when superstar players like Chara actually became available on the free-agent market?

These days, you almost never see that happen anymore. For example, the most coveted points producer of the UFA Class of 2014 was Paul Stastny, who received $7 million US per season from the St. Louis Blues despite not having cracked the 70-point barrier in four years.

Indeed, the crop of free agents seems to be drying up each and every summer, thanks in part to more and more teams locking up their elite players to lengthy extensions like the Anaheim Ducks did with franchise cornerstones Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf, who are both signed through 2021 at cap hits of more than $8 million a year.

“Teams definitely are signing their stars for longer term, and that definitely (dilutes) the market as a result,” CAA’s J.P. Barry, whose list of clients includes the Sedin twins, said Thursday in a phone interview from Kelowna.

“You used to get deals in the two to five year range. Now, under the new system, teams are handing out five- to 12-year deals to keep their key players around.”

Added Phil Kessel’s agent Wade Arnott of Newport Sports: “Phil is an example of that. His deal would have been up right now. The Leafs didn’t let that happen and made sure to lock up their resource.”

Kessel signed an eight-year, $64-million extension last fall, just one day before the Leafs played their 2013-14 season opener in Montreal.

Deals like the Kessel extension leave a watered down free-agent market, one where demand often outweighs supply. As a result, you see teams like the Capitals overpaying a stay-at-home defenceman like Brooks Orpik to the tune of five years, $27.5 million.

Because there is less top-end talent in the free-agent sweepstakes with every passing year, Barry said player movement via trade will become more prevalent. In less than a week we’ve seen that first hand, with both Ryan Kesler and Jason Spezza having been the centrepieces of major swaps.

Interestingly, Spezza, dealt Tuesday by the Ottawa Senators to the Dallas Stars, is one of the few marquee names who is eligible to be part of the UFA class of 2015 along with the likes of Chicago’s Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, Boston’s David Krejci, the Devils’ Cory Schneider and the Sens’ Bobby Ryan. But opposing general managers certainly don’t expect these players to still be available to test the free agent waters by the time next summer comes around.

In Spezza’s case, Stars GM Jim Nill, who understandably says there is no rush, plans on starting extension talks later this summer. As for Kane and Toews, the Hawks have every intention of getting new deals done — likely in the next couple of weeks — with both players, who could be seeking as much as $12 million each.

CROSS CHECKS

Conn Smythe winner Justin Williams should get an extension from the Kings before next summer, likely for at least $5 million ... You have to think Marc-Andre Fleury would have to lead the Pens on a deep playoff run in order for the Pens to not let him test free agency in 2015. And even that might not be enough ... Long-time NHLer Alex Kovalev, who spend last season with Swiss second-tier team EHC Visp, has announced he is retiring from pro hockey ... The Coyotes have hired ex-Sabres GM Darcy Regier as senior VP and assistant GM ... Pat Lafontaine is back at the NHL head office as VP of Hockey Development ... Former Leaf Tim Gleason is back in Carolina after signing a one-year, $1.2-million deal with the Canes.

LAST MINUTE OF PLAY

Flyers captain Claude Giroux released a statement of apology Thursday, claiming his groping a cop’s caboose Tuesday night in Ottawa was all in fun.

“I regret my actions on Canada Day and sincerely apologize to my fans, teammates and the Philadelphia Flyers organization for my misguided attempt at humor,” the statement said.

“Following an investigation, law enforcement determined that charges are not warranted. I have the utmost respect for law enforcement and apologize to the Ottawa Police Department and specifically the individual officer. I will be making no further public comment on this matter.

“I will not be distracted from my ongoing preparation for the upcoming season. I remain 100% committed and focused on working with my team to return the Stanley Cup to Philadelphia.”

Giroux’s antics caused him to spend Tuesday night behind bars. The original story was first broken by the Ottawa Sun.

SIGN OF THE TIMES

Here’s a quick look at some of the players eligible to be members of the UFA Class of 2015. Keep in mind that many of them will have re-upped with their present teams by the time July 1, 2015 rolls around.

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NHL free agency not what it once was

Back in 2006, the Boston Bruins inked arguably the most impactful unrestricted free agent of the past decade in towering 6-foot-9 defenceman Zdeno Chara.

Remember back to those days when superstar players like Chara actually became available on the free-agent market?

These days, you almost never see that happen anymore. For example, the most coveted points producer of the UFA Class of 2014 was Paul Stastny, who received $7 million US per season from the St. Louis Blues despite not having cracked the 70-point barrier in four years.

Indeed, the crop of free agents seems to be drying up each and every summer, thanks in part to more and more teams locking up their elite players to lengthy extensions like the Anaheim Ducks did with franchise cornerstones Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf, who are both signed through 2021 at cap hits of more than $8 million a year.